Guide to the David Brainerd Spooner Papers M0011
Department of Special Collections and University Archives
1999 ; revised 2019
Green Library
557 Escondido Mall
Stanford 94305-6064
specialcollections@stanford.edu
Language of Material:
English
Contributing Institution:
Department of Special Collections and University Archives
Title: David Brainerd Spooner Papers
creator:
Spooner, D. Brainerd (David Brainerd)
Identifier/Call Number: M0011
Physical Description:
10 Linear Feet
(16 boxes)
Date (inclusive): 1899-1925
Abstract: Archaeologist and linguist David Brainerd Spooner was an early graduate of Stanford University (1899) who did considerable
work and writing in archaeology, Indian religion, Indian history, languages, and linguistics.
Biographical / Historical
David Brainard Spooner was born at South Vernon, Vermont, February 7, 1879. Educated at Stanford University, AB 1899, then
taught in Japan at the Prefectural College of Omi at Oatsu. Later he taught at the School of Foreign languages, Tokyo, and
then at the Imperial University. He was the first foreigner to graduate from the Imperial University with an Lit.D. Attended
the British Government College at Benares, 1901-02 and the Sanskrit College in Benares, 1902-03. He was attached to the Siamese
Legation at one time. Granted a fellowship by Harvard and was awarded a Ph.D. from King Frederick William University in Berlin,
1906.
Spooner went to India prior to 1908 as a member of the British Archaeological Survey. In 1910 he is credited with discovering
the remains of Buddha near Peshawar, India. In 1915 Spooner married Elizabeth Colton of Easthampton, Mass. He became head
of the British Archaeological Survey and did considerable work and writing in archaeology, Indian religion, Indian History,
languages, and linguistics. Spooner died at Agra, India, Jan. 30, 1925, and is buried there.
(For a more complete biography see Spooner Correspondence File)
Scope and Contents
The Spooner Papers contain D. B. Spooner's correspondence from 1899 to 1922. The bulk of the correspondence was written between
1915 and 1918. The collection also includes manuscript, typescript, and printed copies of articles by D. B. Spooner. There
are many manuscript and typescript language notebooks and studies. Also included are booklets in foreign languages, photographs,
memorabilia, and some artifacts such as scrolls and palm leaves.
Spooner's primary work was concerned with Indian Archaeology and Indian Religion. Of secondary importance are his works concerning
Indian History and various language studies.
Preferred Citation:
[Identification of item], David Brainerd Spooner Papers (M0011), Dept. of Special Collections, Stanford University Libraries,
Stanford, Calif.
Provenance
Gift of Mrs. Lawrence E. Norem, 1959.
Publication Rights
While Special Collections is the owner of the physical and digital items, permission to examine collection materials is not
an authorization to publish. These materials are made available for use in research, teaching, and private study. Any transmission
or reproduction beyond that allowed by fair use requires permission from the owners of rights, heir(s) or assigns.
Conditions Governing Access
Open for research. Note that material must be requested at least 36 hours in advance of intended use.
Separated Materials
Much of the published material (articles, reprints, booklets, etc.) have been transferred to the library's general catalog.
Eight photographs of Stanford University were transferred to University Archives.
Arrangement
Folders were numbered consecutively across boxes.
Subjects and Indexing Terms
India -- Antiquities
Buddhism -- Study and teaching
India -- Languages
Asia -- History
Spooner, D. Brainerd (David Brainerd)
Subseries 1.1 : Letters of D. B. Spooner
Feb.1899 - Jan. 1922
Arrangement note
arranged chronologically
box 1, Folder 1-27
Outgoing
Feb. 1899 - Dec. 1916
box 2, folder 28 - 44
Outgoing
Jan. 1917 - Jan. 1922
Subseries 1.2 : Letters concerning D. B. Spooner, letter notes, letter fragments
box 2, folder 45
Outgoing letter fragments
box 2, folder 46
Miscellaneous letter notes
box 2, folder 47
Letters concerning D. B. Spooner
box 2, folder 48-52
Subseries 1.3 : Letters to D. B. Spooner
Arrangement note
Arranged alphabetically by author and chronologically under each.
Series 2. Articles and Poems
box 3, folder 53
Subseries 2.1 : Distribution List for Spooner Articles
box 3, folder 54-93
Subseries 2.2 : Articles arranged alphabetically by title
The American Boarding School
Analytical Index to the Legends and Devices on Indian Seals
A Critical Study of Mallinatha's Commentary on the Meghadula
The Buddha Relics in Japan
The Dedarganu Image now in Patna Museum
The Discovery of Kanishka's Vihara
The Field of Indian Archaeology
The Indian Reform Scheme in
The Indira of Bankim Chandra
The Iranian Element in Ancient India
The Iranian Element in Early India
The Kiratarjuniya of Bharavi Magh Mela
Mauna, Mauni and Maunindra
On a Houseboat in Kashmir
Quaint Stories from the Japanese
Review of the Household Troops
Short Discription of work in India
Short Guide to the Archaeological Galleries in the Indian Museum, Calcutta
Some English Speaking Birds in India
Mr. Tatan Tata's Excavations at Pataliputra
Varieties of the Visnu Image
Subseries 2.3 : Fragments of articles, notes on books, poems
box 4-5, folder 94 - 107
Fragments and single pages of articles by D. B. Spooner
box 4-5, folder 108
Gazatteer Appendix to the Index
box 4-5, folder 109 - 111
box 4-5, folder 112 - 123
Series 3. Research Material
Subseries 3.1 : Notebooks and typescript copies of Spooner's works on Buddhism and Indian Religion
box 5
Four notebooks with typescript annotated by hand on “Gautama the Archi-Magus”
box 5
Two sheafs of typescript on “Gautama the Archi-Magus”
box 6
Selections from the Poet Hali, Pearls and Cowrie Shells (poems by D. B. Spooner), Kiratarjuniya of Bharavi (prose translation
and blank verse) manuscript, Manuscript Register of Dated Indian Images, Dr. Lee's Career by Miles Chapin
box 7
Three notebooks typescript and manuscript entitled “The Gods of Hindustan”
Subseries 3.2 : Notebooks, also typescript copies of Zoroastrian Period of Indian History
box 7, folder 124
Manuscript on Zoroastrian Period of Indian History
box 7, folder 125
Manuscript on Zoroastrian Period of Indian History
Subseries 3.3 : Research materials in notebooks
box 8
Manuscript copies of a chronological history of India
Subseries 3.4 : Notebooks and studies of Asian Languages, booklets in various languages
box 9
Language Notebooks
Scope and Contents note
Six notebooks and two folders containing smaller notebooks on Asian, especially Indian languages
box 10, folder 129-133
Studies of Asian languages
box 10, folder 135-137
Booklets and Documents in Indian Languages
box 10, folder 138
Register of Chinese Characters as Used by the Japanese
Series 4. Newspaper Clippings
Scope and Contents note
Large scrapbook filled with clippings. Also loose clippings in the front of the scrapbook.
box 10
Scrapbook
Scope and Contents note
Scrapbook filled with newspaper clippings. Most clippings pertain to the discovery of the remains of Buddha
Series 5. Personal papers and documents of D. B. Spooner and Mrs. D. B. Spooner. Memorabilia
Scope and Contents note
Personal Papers and documents of D. B. Spooner and Mrs. Spooner. Diaries of Spooner which were kept while he was at Stanford
and while he was in Japan. Container consists of folders 139-155
box 11, folder 139
Translations by Mrs. Spooner
box 11, folder 140
Certificates given to Mrs. Spooner
box 11, folder 141
Emergency Passport issued to D.B. Spooner November 1914
box 11, folder 142
Samples of Papers used in India
box 11, folder 143
Class Prophecy, Stanford
1896
box 11, folder 145
Feathers of the Chakaichakwa Bird
box 11, folder 146
"A Trip to Stanfordtown" [photo album]
Scope and Contents
Small album containing captioned prints of Stanford campus circa mid-to-late 1890s (Spooner graduated in 1899).
box 11, folder 147
Diary Kept at Stanford. Diary Kept in Japan
box 11, folder 148
Bankbook from the Bank of Bengal
box 11, folder 150
Tickets to Official Indian Functions
box 11, folder 151
Conferring of Title of Shams-ul-ulama on Maulvi Muhammad Abdul Jalil
box 11, folder 152
Plans and Sketch of University of Jerusalem
box 11, folder 153
Bulletins no.654 & 655 of Zionist Executive Press Bureau
box 11, folder 154
Diploma from University of Berlin
box 11, folder 155
Contract between D.B. Spooner and Secretary of State for India
April 5, 1906
Box 11
Life of David Brainerd Spooner, Jr., PhD, O.B.E by Carolyn Case Norem ; "Girl Linguist Soon to Marry Archaeologist" from Boston
Sunday Post 11/26/1911 ; The Oriental Conference ; Finding the Bones of the Great Buddha [typescripts]
Box 12, Folder 1
D. B. Spooner in America, India, and Japan
Scope and Contents
Photos of D. B. Spooner as a child and as an adult, many of the latter taken in India. Some include Mrs. Spooner, some are
group photos with colleagues.
Box 13, Folder 14-15
Spooner at home and in his study
Box 14
Portrait of D. B. Spooner in elaborately carved wooden frame
Box 12, Folder 2
Portraits from Japan
Scope and Contents
Most of these mounted portraits are labeled with the name of the individual depicted. Three of these photos are of Marquis
Phya Rithirong of Siam (Thailand).
Box 12, Folder 3
Portraits, landscapes, buildings, and rooms from Japan
Scope and Contents
Portraits, landscapes, buildings, and rooms. Most portraits signed with a name.
Box 12, Folder 4
Photos of buildings from Japan
Scope and Contents
Series of prints of various pieces of architecture.
Photographer: Genrokukan in Kyoto
Box 13, Folder 1
Photo of a woman (geisha?) by K. Ogawa
Box 13, Folder 2
Photo of well-dressed man (Rithirong?) with two children
Box 13, Folder 3
Group photo (ship's crew?)
Box 13, Folder 5
Shinjuku Shogyo Gakko
1899-1900
Scope and Contents
Writing on reverse: "a group of students in fencing paraphernalia -- the Shinjuku Shogyo Gakko
Otsu, Omi, Japan"
Box 13, Folder 6
Count Otani's private gardens at the Higashi Honganji
Scope and Contents
Writing on reverse: "A photograph of a picture of the Most Rev. Count Otani's private gardens at the Higashi Hongwanji, Kyoto,
Japan. Presented to me by his son at the tiffin to Marquis Rithirong, July 2, 1900, during the ceremonies on the arrival from
Siam of the Bones of Gautama Buddha."
Box 13, Folder 7-10
Group photos of Spooner in Japan
Box 12, Folder 5
Temples, scenes, etc., primarily from India
Scope and Contents
Predominantly photos of archaeological structures. Many described on reverse.
Box 12, Folder 6-7
Photos from the Archaeological Survey, Eastern Circle
Scope and Contents
No. 675-748.
Box 13, Folder 4
Portrait of Masood Jung inscribed to Spooner
1924-06-05
Box 13, Folder 11
Unidentified photos from India
Box 13, Folder 12
Group photo with Spooner taken in Benmore, Simla
1923-08-29
Box 13, Folder 13
Photo of the Dalai Lama and the Relics of the Buddha
1910-03-17
Scope and Contents
Writing on reverse: "Photograph of the Dalai Lama of Tibet with members of his court. His Holiness is in the centre, + holds
in his hands the new golden casket containing the Relics of the Buddha. The original casket in which the Relics were placed
by King Kanishra is on the table. The photo was taken in Calcutta March 17, 1910, and it is not permitted to publish it, under
orders."
Box 14
Signed portrait of the Earl of Ronaldshay as Governor of Bengal, 1917, in frame
Box 15
Scroll with Chinese calligraphy
box 15
Scroll with Chinese calligraphy with tag - "20. The Ten Commandments"
Box 16
Fabric and paper scroll with embroidery and ink in Mongolian and Chinese
Scope and Contents
Accompanied by undated note and translation:
"For Mrs. Burton Livingston, Carlton Hotel, Washington. It may interest Mrs. Burton Livingson to know that the scroll which
Mrs. Livingston was so good as to send to Mrs. Anderson has been deciphered by the Japanese student in the employ of Mrs.
Anderson (A Doctor of Letters of Columbia University) as follows:
[first part] Imperial Edict for Civil and Military Rank System in China.
[second part] Imperial Record of a Mongolian General, dated about 1660-1708 AD
[third part] The same Manchu translation"
This note is followed by a handwritten translation of the text, which appears to be record of Manchu military service in a
series of proclamations dated 1634 to 1720.
box 16
Burmese horoscope (jātā) manuscript recording the birth of a son in 1879, incised on palm leaf [i.e. bamboo?]
1879
Scope and Contents
Description from previous processing, no tag or other identification. Item is not described in original 1960 finding aid and
may be part of another collection, possibly Evans-Wentz Buddhist Collection:
https://oac.cdlib.org/findaid/ark:/13030/tf6d5nb228/
box 16
Palm leaf manuscript, no outer boards [original folder 156. "Satipatthana Buddha's Sermon on Meditation" written on outer
leaf]
Box 16
Palm leaf manuscript with painted wooden boards [probably original folder 157 "Buddhist Scripture written on Wooden Sheets"]
